Reduction of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in mice by taurine.

The effect of taurine on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity was examined in mice. A single intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (15 mg/kg) produced a significant elevation of calcium and lipoperoxide content at 72 hr, as well as a significant depletion of creatine phosphokinase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase activities at 48 hr and glutathione peroxidase activity at 24 hr in the myocardium. These results suggest that a substantial myocardial damage had occurred. All biochemical alterations except depletion of glutathione peroxidase, were markedly attenuated by the combined oral and intraperitoneal administration of taurine. Taurine significantly improved the survival rate of the mice treated with doxorubicin. These results demonstrate that taurine antagonized doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.